Decorating Tip: New, fresh looks

Monday

Oct 1, 2012 at 12:01 AMOct 19, 2012 at 11:45 AM

Spruce up kitchen cabinets with a fresh coat of paint or stain, or simply remove the doors for a truly European-style kitchen. To fix up an old ceiling fan, have new blades installed, or just clean out and repaint the old ones.

Decorating Tip: New, fresh looks

Spruce up kitchen cabinets with a fresh coat of paint or stain, or simply remove the doors for a truly European-style kitchen. To fix up an old ceiling fan, have new blades installed, or just clean out and repaint the old ones. Finally, declutter for a quick makeover. Larger, clutter-free spaces create the impression of a bigger house.

-- HGTV/ Scripps Howard News Service

Home-Selling Tip: Explore the attic bedroom idea

Do you have an empty attic in your house? Explore the possibility of turning it into an extra bedroom. Get quotes from professionals as to how much the renovation would cost, and ask a real estate agent how much you could expect to get as a return on your investment. Different regions of the country offer different amounts for an attic bedroom, so do your homework.

-- FrontDoor.com

Going Green: Retailer goes green, made in US

Eastern Mountain Sports, one of the country's leading sports-equipment retailers, recently became the first large nation chain to carry 100 percent recycled clothing made in the U.S. Fabrics are made of pre-consumer cotton waste and post-consumer polyester comprised primarily from plastic bottles.

-- Earth911.com

Did You Know …

Existing-home sales rose 7.8 percent from August to July and are 9.3 percent higher than 2011 numbers.

Garden Guide: Move houseplants indoors

It is time to begin bringing your houseplants and other tropical plants indoors for the winter. As you bring the plants inside, Rhonda Ferree, University of Illinois Extension educator, suggests you take the time to spruce them up and give them new life.

First, check to see if the plant has any insect or disease problems. Next, see if the plant needs to be repotted. Groom plants by removing debris. Clean plant leaves to remove dust and dirt buildup with 1 teaspoon non-phosphate soap in 1 quart of water. Use a sponge, cleaning cloth, or paper towel. Wipe down containers, too. Keep the plant attractive by trimming off old flower heads and all dead or dying leaves.